Just because the garden is about to put on its winter coat, doesn’t mean your home has to as well. Big tropical ferns and large-leaf palms are having a bit of a design moment right now. They’re a great way to bring the lush, leafy feel of summer inside.  

But indoor plants aren’t for everyone.

Let’s face it. They are notoriously easy to kill, and the last thing we need is a sickly houseplant begging for attention. We have enough to feel guilty about.

That’s why you need to forget about sweet African violets or delicate maidenhair ferns. The trick is to buy plants that are indestructible, like the Terminator; something that can take anything—neglect, thirst, darkness, central heating—and still come back for more.

No plant wants to live indoors. But rainforest plants, like palms and ferns, adapt to life inside because they’re used to living under a canopy without a lot of light. They still need occasional food and water, but can handle a dark room and a bit of ‘forgetfulness’.

When you first bring your plant home from the nursery it will be a bit of a mummy’s boy – demanding regular feedings and lots of attention. It doesn’t know it yet, but those days are over. It’s time to toughen up. Gradually wean them off regular watering, until they can go from week to week with barely a glance in their direction.

Life’s too short for a needy pot plant.

Top tips for growing indoor plants:

• Water them once a week.
• Feed them every six weeks with indoor pot plant food.
• Replant every year into a bigger pot. Use the best quality potting mix – trust us, you’ll thank us later.
• Big ceramic display pots are too heavy to lift, so don’t plant into these. Keep the plants in their plastic pots, so you can lift them in and out of their display pots.
• Use a pot tray and little pot feet to protect your floors from watermarks.

Which plant?

If your room has indirect light, look for plants with big dark green leaves that can handle low-light situations. Look for Zanzibar Gem, Cast Iron Plant (Aspidestra), Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa), Happy Plant (Dracaena sanderia) and the popular Peace Lily (Spathyphyllum).

If your spot is well lit, choose plants that have colourful or patterned leaves. Look out for bromeliads (Vriesea), the gorgeously stripy Prayer Plant (Calathea) or the Zebra plant (Aphelandra).